Tag: 2023 Release

Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner

Audiobook Review | Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other by Bethany Turner

Brenda Cornell reinvented herself as Brynn not long after she left the tiny town of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, twenty years ago.

She’s now the co-host of a network morning news show, and has a bright future ahead of her. At least, she does until she’s overheard disparaging her hometown when she thinks the cameras are no longer rolling. She is sent back to Adelaide Springs to try and save her career by making good with the people she insulted on national TV.

Sebastian Sebworth is an ex-journalist who moved to Adelaide Springs a few years back, and who now sits on the city council, runs the local newspaper, and acts as general taxi driver and dogsbody in his spare time. He’s given the job of shepherding Brynn and her cameraman around town for the week.

My first impression of Brynn was not positive, and I could fully understand why Sebastian took an instant dislike to her. She was arrogant, rude, and shallow, and seemed to excel in saying the wrong thing at the same time. However, Sebastian didn’t win me over either. He deliberately baited Brynn instead of taking the opportunity to be the bigger person.

Brynn and Sebastian reminded me why I’m not a fan of enemies-to-more stories.

I was probably halfway thought the story before I found either of them particularly likeable, and even then I was reluctant. They both have difficult backstories to overcome, but didn’t feel like their backstories influenced their behaviour toward each other … which was barely civil to begin with.

I also wasn’t entirely convinced by their developing relationship, in that they seemed to move from enemies to forever in too short a period of time (less than a week in story time). I did enjoy seeing Brynn reunite with people from her growing-up years, and I enjoyed the insights into life in a tiny town (population of under 900).

I reviewed the audiobook version which makes it harder to judge the quality of the writing.

There were a few sentences that sounded clunky, but was that the writing, the narration, or a combination of the two? It was generally a good production, but there were a few times when I found it difficult to track which character was speaking, especially if the conversation was between two men.

Overall, Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other is a solid rom-com that fans of the enemies-to-more trope will enjoy.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free audiobook for review.

About Bethany Turner

Bethany Turner has been writing since the second grade, when she won her first writing award for explaining why, if she could have lunch with any person throughout history, she would choose John Stamos. She stands by this decision. Bethany now writes pop culture–infused rom-coms for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.

She lives in Southwest Colorado with her husband, whom she met in the nineties in a chat room called Disco Inferno. As sketchy as it sounds, it worked out pretty well in this case, and they are now the proud parents of two teenagers.

Find Bethany Turner online at:

Website | BookBub | Facebook |  Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other

She’s a sunny morning-show host. He’s a cynical ex-reporter. They’re destined to hate each other . . . Aren’t they?

Brynn Cornell has to be stuck in a nightmare. Just last week, she was riding high as cohost of the popular morning show Sunup. She’s America’s Ray of Sunshine—the girl-next-door beauty who drives up TV ratings while never exuding anything but her trademark positivity and poise. All it took was one huge on-air mistake to expose her snarky side to the world and make it all come crumbling down. Now she’s back in her hometown of Adelaide Springs, Colorado, in a last-ditch attempt to convince viewers she’s not the mean girl they think she is. All she has to do is apologize and capture some feel-good footage reminding everyone she’s just a girl from humble beginnings who’s grateful for her big break, and she might manage to preserve both her career and her image. But this town holds painful memories that she’s not ready to face.

Sebastian Sudworth was on the fast track to the journalist hall of fame. A superstar reporter with a reputation for being in the center of the action, his fearless, relentless coverage of major events around the globe was winning him awards and accolades—until something snapped inside him and he vanished from the scene under mysterious circumstances. Sebastian sought refuge in tiny Adelaide Springs, working odd jobs and trying to blend in as a scruffy mountain town citizen.

When Sebastian is assigned to chauffeur Brynn around town, Brynn is sure he can see right through her carefully cultivated, sunny persona. But she’s determined to do what it takes to maintain her image and save her career—so she’ll just have to charm the socks off Sebastian the same way she charmed her viewers. Easier said than done. It’s no picnic to play nice around someone you hate . . . especially when you might be crazy about them.

Find Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other online:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #315 | Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’m currently reading a review copy of Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad, which is part of the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Bidding on a Second Chance

His bid for a second chance this Christmas might lead to her most disastrous fall yet.

Police officer Graham Lockhart’s life is dangerous enough without accident-prone Piper Wells tripping around in it—at least that’s what she claimed when she declined his marriage proposal two years ago. But he can’t help but wonder if there is more to her refusal.

Piper always cared for Graham, but she is incapable of giving him the one thing he wants more than anything—family. All her orphaned self knows about that is how much it hurts to lose. She’s better off focusing on caring for her nephew and running her business. Secondhand furniture doesn’t break hearts.

When an injury sidelines Piper leading into the holidays, Graham steps up to help her keep her commitment to a Christmastime auction benefiting a local family. Can they overcome the hurdles between them, or will the past and their warring hopes and fears trip them up for good?

Visit Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series of Christian romance.

Find Bidding on a Second Chance online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

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New Releases in Christian Fiction

New Releases in Christian Fiction | December 2023

What’s new in Christian fiction from members of American Christian Fiction Writers (in case you were wondering, ACFW does have members from out side the USA!)
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

What are you planning to read this month?

Contemporary Romance

Bidding on a Second Chance by Emily Conrad — His bid for a second chance this Christmas might lead to her most disastrous fall yet. Police officer Graham Lockhart’s life is dangerous enough without accident-prone Piper Wells tripping around in it—at least that’s what she claimed when she declined his marriage proposal two years ago. But he can’t help but wonder if there is more to her refusal.

Piper always cared for Graham, but she is incapable of giving him the one thing he wants more than anything—family. All her orphaned self knows about that is how much it hurts to lose. She’s better off focusing on caring for her nephew and running her business. Secondhand furniture doesn’t break hearts. When an injury sidelines Piper leading into the holidays, Graham steps up to help her keep her commitment to a Christmastime auction benefiting a local family.

Can they overcome the hurdles between them, or will the past and their warring hopes and fears trip them up for good?? (Contemporary Romance from Hope Anchor LLC)

I’m currently reading a review copy, so watch out for my review soon!

Home from the Storm by Laurel M. Blount — After a senseless loss, hotheaded Caleb Hochstedler left his Amish faith and his young wife to seek justice. Two years later, he tracks his parents’ killer back home to Johns Mill, where he’s astonished to learn he’s the father of twins. Now he’s determined to protect his children and the woman he still loves—if she’ll let him.

Her new husband’s abandonment broke Rhoda Lambright’s heart and proved her father, the bishop, right. Such a stubborn man could never be happy among the peaceful Amish. When Caleb unexpectedly returns, Rhoda is caught between her rock of a husband and a very hard place. Her church forbids divorce and requires forgiveness, so Rhoda lets Caleb back into their home.

But can she ever let him back into her heart? One thing’s for certain sure. This second chance will take all the faith they can find. (Contemporary Romance from Berkley)


The Care of a Cowboy by Elsie Davis — In the sprawling landscape of Crossroads Creek, where the Texan sun paints golden dreams, Max Turner suddenly finds his dream of reclaiming his family’s lost ranch put on hold. To avoid draining his savings account, Max is desperately searching for a new job and a place to live, except ranch foreman jobs weren’t easy to come by.

As the scorching summer unfolds, Max’s path crosses with that of Lucy Carrington, a determined young woman whose dreams clash with the expectations of her traditional rancher father. When her father hires Max to secretly oversee the ranch because he doesn’t trust his daughter to handle a man’s job, Max is caught in a web of deceit. As Max and Lucy navigate the complexities of their new roles, including the surprise news that Max is guardian to Crystal…a twelve-year-old niece he never knew existed, they discover the power of love and resilience, and the true meaning of family.

(Contemporary Romance from Sweet Romance Publishing)

General Contemporary

Broken Spirit by Sheridan Lee — The dream of motherhood eludes her. Can she find her way back to hope? Belinda Briggs’ life is shattered by losses and crises, shattering her faith and leading her on a quest for renewed hope, faith, and peace in this series finale contemporary Christian women’s fiction tale. (Contemporary Women’s Fiction from Winged Publications)


Chokecherry Valley Comfort by Jean Rezab — One accident. Two devastated families. Paul Richmond’s life changed in an instant when his wife and seven-year-old daughter die in a car accident. He struggles to move forward with this huge change. As his two-year sobriety anniversary approaches, he knows he’s on the edge of a relapse. He takes a sabbatical from his work as a doctor and heads to his in-law’s farm to get perspective and try to come to terms with his new life. Tyler Garvey is the only survivor of the two-vehicle accident in which his younger brother dies. He feels guilty because he should have been driving. His parents don’t blame him, but he blames himself, and so does Paul. Both families try to put their lives back together. It’s going to take time, a great deal of comfort, and forgiveness on all sides. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)


Chokecherry Valley Joy by Jean Rezab — Abby feels like everything is wrong with her life. She’s never dealt with the grief of losing her twin sister, Samantha, and niece, Amy, in an accident. Her marriage to Mark has fallen into the routine of his long hours of work and her erratic schedule as a nurse in a busy Houston hospital. Their failed attempt to have a child puts further strain on their relationship. Unhappy in her current job, she needs a break. She travels to Chokecherry Valley to spend two weeks with her parents at their farm. Mark plans to join her after he finishes his current work project, and she hopes to reconnect with him and discuss their future. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)

The Year of Goodbyes and Hellos by Kelly S. Irvin — Determined to save Sherri’s life, Kristen drops everything to guide her sister on the harrowing cancer treatment journey. When she’s unable to balance the strain of caring for her patients, being a wife and mother, and her frantic efforts to save her sister, Kristen’s carefully balanced life crumbles, starting with her marriage. Desperate to regain her footing, she vows to rebuild her broken relationships . . . as soon she’s sure Sherri will beat the odds stacked against her. Unlike her sister, Sherri Reynolds has worked to cultivate balance in her life. Her children, her job as a teacher, and her strong faith keep her grounded—until her diagnosis sends her spiraling into the scary world of what-ifs and unknown outcomes. Sherri faces the agonizing realization that family history may be about to repeat itself. With the clock ticking, she’s determined to use whatever time she has left to heal old wounds and restore relationships. Together, the sisters are forced to reexamine their priorities, address the still tender wounds of their childhood, and delve more deeply to discover what it means to live each day to its fullest.? (General Contemporary from HarperCollins Christian Publishing)


Christmas in Ohio by Bettie Boswell, Tamera Lynn Kraft, Penny Frost McGinnis, and Michelle Levigne — Come join us for a celebration of Christmas in the Buckeye State, with snow and mistletoe, a dash of suspense and danger, mystery and reunions, healing and hope. (General Contemporary from Mt. Zion Ridge Press)

Historical Romance


When Love Comes by Penny Zeller — A woman with a broken heart. A man struggling with the loss of his brother and the subsequent care of his young niece. And two silly aunts who discover it’s never too late for true love. When Charlotte’s and Tobias’s paths cross in Prune Creek, Wyoming, can they put aside their preconceived disdain for each other? Does God have a plan for them and for a young girl in search of someone to take the place of the parents she lost? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Cozy Mystery


Deadly Burden by Janet Sketchley — Obey the police and stay safe, or follow her heart and help unmask a killer? Landon Smith solved the last murder by accident—and nearly became the next victim. When a shocking death strikes her close-knit circle, can this amateur sleuth discover who wanted the town busybody dead? The dead woman knew too much about too many people. Was she silenced to protect a secret? Or because of one she wouldn’t tell? And how can a dyslexic trauma survivor find clues the professionals miss? Landon can’t afford to be sidetracked by a vindictive guest at the inn or by unexpected family drama. Or by falling for the geeky writer next door—now that he’s over her. With a storm closing in and no leads in sight, Landon’s first Christmas at the Green Dory Inn is shaping up to be anything but merry and bright. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

 

Romantic Suspense

Buried Grave Secrets by Darlene L. Turner — Standing guard…with threats on all sides. When bones are found at an unmarked grave site—and then shots are fired—forensic anthropologist Jordyn Miller knows someone wants old secrets to remain buried. She’ll do anything to uncover the truth about these suspicious deaths, including accepting the protection of her ex-boyfriend, Constable Colt Peters, and his K-9. But with targets on their backs, can Jordyn stay alive long enough to bring a serial killer to justice?? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense/Harlequin)

 

Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

A Courageous Betrothal by Denise Weimer – A wounded lieutenant, a woman fierce enough to protect her family, and an American Revolution with everything at stake. (Historical Romance)

Another Outer Banks Christmas by Christina Sinisi – She’s a role model for everything good, and he comes from a rough and broken home. (Contemporary Romance)

Finding Baby Jesus by Lynn Weathington – Will Baby Jesus find his way back into the nativity in time for Christmas? (Contemporary Romance)

Hilltop Christmas by Kathleen D. Bailey – When the integrity of the Festival is threatened, Noah must call on his Lord, and Jane on the God from whom she’s drifted, to find justice and restore Hilltop to what it is. (Romance)

Her Christmas Healing by Mindy Obenhaus – With love, faith, a support dog and some Christmas spirit, maybe it’s not too late after all… (Contemporary Romance)

For Love or Money by Susan Page Davis – When he learns where the money probably came from, will it keep their two families apart? (Western)

Hope’s Hills by Ruth Kyser – Will they remain good friends, or has God got other plans for their futures? (Contemporary Romance)

Snow Globe Secrets by Laura Thomas – Shootings, snow globes, and secrets abound when Alexis James witnesses the shooting of a British author outside the local bookstore. (Romantic Suspense Novella)

The Quilting Circle Box Set by Mary Davis – All four books from the Quilting Circle Series in one box set. (Historical Romance)

I keep wondering if Samuel 2.0 is going to reboot to his original factory settings.

Book Review | Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

Julia Monroe is the widowed mother of two college-aged sons. She supports herself as a self-employed cleaner, and volunteers for the church cleaning ministry she established before her husband dies.

Ex-Green Beret Samuel Reed was Julia’s first love and first heartbreak. He’s back in town after an injury forces him out of the army. They meet at church, and it immediately obvious that Samuel wants to reconnect romantically with Julia. It’s equally obvious she has no interest in reestablishing any kind of relationship, even though it’s more than ten years since her husband died.

I could well understand Julia’s reluctance.

Having said that, I thought her big excuse (that her children were upset the last time someone asked her out) was a little weak given how much time had passed. I could also understand her reaction to Samuel’s over-confidence (which came across as almost arrogant). I get that he’s a Green Beret so his career has taught and required competence and confidence. But I did think a dose of humility might have helped his cause.

I’m amazed and impressed that Julia could support herself and two sons while working as a self-employed house cleaner. I’m also impressed that Samuel could go so long without a job. That speaks well to his financial sense – he’s a saver, not a spender.

The story is written in first person, and entirely from Julia’s point of view. While it might have been nice to get into Samuel’s head sometimes, we didn’t need to as there was no doubt about Samuel’s feelings or what he wanted from Julia. Being in Julia’s perspective meant we could journey with her on her journey from aversion and suspicion to friendship to more.

Yes, this is a romance.

There is definitely a “more” although it’s definitely on the slow-burn low-angst end of the scale. I liked that, because anything else wouldn’t have felt true to her character (and because there is enough angst in real life. I read to escape real life). I especially liked the Christian aspects of the story – the way Julia does (and doesn’t) pray about her problems (which felt realistic and believable), and the way she sees Samuel has changed since he became a Christian.

Julia Monroe Begins Again is an excellent second-chance #ChristianRomance from Rebekah Millet, and features an older couple. Recommended. #BookReview Share on X

Julia Monroe Begins Again is an excellent second-chance romance featuring an older couple. The cover gives off a bit of a rom-com feel, but it’s more romance than rom-com (apart from regular appearances from Chewy, Julia’s dog. He’s named for Chewbacca, but the other meaning also holds true). This is Rebecca Millet’s debut novel, and I look forward to reading more from her.

Recommended for fans of first-person contemporary romance and authors such as Jan Thompson, Liwen Ho, and Courtney Walsh.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Rebekah Millet

Rebekah MilletRebekah Millet is a Cascade Award and ACFW First Impressions Award-winning author of contemporary Christian romance novels. A New Orleans native, she grew up on beignets and café au lait, and she loves infusing her colorful culture into her stories. She exasperates her husband by rearranging their furniture and being a serial plant killer, while her two sons keep her laughing and share her love of strawberry Pop-Tarts.

Find Rebekah Millet online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

About Julia Monroe Begins Again

Samuel was back. It seemed unfair to be blindsided. And in church no less. Shouldn’t there be a commandment about that? Thou shalt not step foot inside thy ex’s place of worship.

Julia Monroe has just turned forty and has high hopes for a fresh start after the last decade of her life abruptly left her a young widow and a single mom. With both her boys off to college, she can finally focus on expanding her New Orleans-based cleaning business. Julia is ready for new beginnings–but God has other plans. Samuel Reed, the ruggedly handsome Green Beret who shattered her heart over twenty years ago, has returned to town and is the kind of distraction she never saw coming.

After their first interaction in years leaves her mind spinning and her emotions out of control, Julia knows she needs to avoid him if she wants any chance of preventing history from repeating itself, but her meddling best friend keeps throwing them together. And now it seems inevitable that the man who was hard to forget might just be impossible to resist.

Find Julia Monroe Begins Again online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

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I’m Cat Cranwell. Half owner of the platform about to take the world by storm. And famous for a living.

Book Review | Famous for a Living by Melissa Ferguson

Cat Cranwell is an online influencer who is unceremoniously cancelled when the new social network she’s promoting is found to be selling data.

My first impression of Cat was shallow.

My second impression was that she was clever enough to know she really should read a contract before signing it … but not clever enough to stand up for herself and insist that she (or her lawyer) actually read the contract. I almost stopped reading at this point. In fact, I did stop reading, only to return to the book several months later.

Anyway, Cat’s uncle invites her to his small town in Montanna, where he has a job she can do while she waits for the hullabaloo to die down. He’s the head Park Ranger for Kannery National Park, and hires Cat to reenergise their social media profiles and marketing in general.

So Cat catches a flight to the middle of nowhere, taking more suitcases than she should reasonably have been allowed to check in. (Who needs six suitcases to go anywhere?) She meets her uncle’s quirky colleagues, including the elusive Zaiah Smith.

Famous for a Living had the same city-girl-meets-country-boy grumpy sunshine plot and overall vibe as Brynn and Sebastian Hate Each Other. Brynn and Sebastian’s story had them both as point of view characters, while Cat’s story is told entirely in first person from her point of view.

I found that a little hard going … and I say that as someone who usually loves first person.

I think my problem was that I found Cat annoying and unlikeable for the first third of the book. She mellowed slightly in the middle third and was quite likeable by the end (although I still don’t see what Zaiah saw in her, or vice versa).

The cover gives off definite rom-com vibes, and there were some funny lines and even funny scenes. The writing was good and occasionally great, although there were a few times I had to backtrack because it felt like I’d missed something important (like Zaiah giving any indication he was romantically interested in Cat. Or vice versa). As such, the story was definitely more com than rom.

The story did make some solid points about social media use and addiction.

However, I would have liked to have seen that spread more evenly throughout the story. I guess it could be argued that the whole story was a warning against social media addiction, but that wasn’t the impression I got.

Famous for a Living is categorised as Christian fiction, and I kept waiting for Cat–or Zaiah, or anyone–to show some kind of Christian message (like how we, as Christians, should look to God rather than social media for love). But it never came. Yes, I guess it was a clean and wholesome romance, but I would have liked to have seen more of a faith element, and much more of a romance.

If you enjoy rom-coms from authors like Bethany Turner, then you may enjoy Famous for a Living.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Melissa Ferguson

Melissa Ferguson

Find Melissa Ferguson online at:

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About Famous for a Living

She’s Insta-famous. He uses a flip phone.

When her business partner is accused of serious financial crimes, superstar influencer Cat Cranwell—an engineered marvel of beauty, energy, and fun—falls from her penthouse perch. Des­perate to get away from the online trolls and paparazzi docu­menting her disgrace, Cat accepts her uncle’s offer to work with him in Kannery National Park, Montana. About as far as possible from life as she’s known it.

Cat’s world shifts from the swirling haze of likes and comments to lit­eral blizzards of frostbite temperatures and waist-deep snow. In place of negotiating brand deals, she finds herself negotiating at the ledge of a frozen lake with her die-hard Polar Bear Plunge coworkers. Instead of padding through the marble kitchen of her Manhattan loft, she’s sharing a tent-sized cabin with a roommate eager to bond like characters in sitcoms. But something curious is also happening in this overwhelming breath of fresh air as she reacquaints with the most honest parts of her­self and begins to ask the hard questions. Can Cat love herself with, and without, the world watching?

Then there’s that other tiny problem—she’s falling for Zaiah, the ruggedly handsome park ranger—and he hates anything remotely connected to social media, quite possibly her included.

Written with bestselling author Melissa Ferguson’s signature wit and charm, this laugh-out-loud romantic comedy of opposites attract is full of hilarious romp and a romance that will melt readers’ hearts.

Find Famous for a Living online at:

Amazon | BookBub | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Click here to find great Christian fiction in my Amazon shop.

 

It’s interesting people think they have a God-given right to be happy. Like ... as though happiness is a birthright.

Book Review | The Secret to Happiness by Suzanne Woods Fisher

The Secret to Happiness is the sequel to The Sweet Life, which brought mother and daughter duo Marnie and Dawn to the seaside town of Chatham, where they own and run the Main Street Creamery. I had mixed feelings about The Sweet Life—the cover had led me to expect a romance, but it was more women’s fiction, and while I liked Marnie, I wasn’t so sure about Dawn.

I have some of the same mixed feelings about The Secret to Happiness.

It started with a Cast of Characters list, which I rarely find to be a good sign in contemporary fiction. It’s fine in historical fiction, where it can be important to know which characters are real historical people and which are products of the author’s imagination. In contemporary fiction, I find it’s often an excuse for the author to dump a bunch of characters on the reader without proper introduction. It’s not—Fisher does a great job with bringing each new character into the story—so I don’t know why the Cast of Characters was included.

While both Marnie and Dawn are point of view characters in The Secret to Happiness, this is Callie Dixon’s story.

Callie is Marnie’s niece and Dawn’s cousin, and she is currently unemployed after giving two hundred people food poisoning (oops). Two hundred people attending the annual Food Safety Conference (big oops). Callie has always been an overachieving perfectionist–she had to be, to be offered a role as executive chef in a top Boston hotel while still in her twenties. But she’s changed, and now she barely leaves her bed, which spurs Dawn into forcing her to attend a free class at the local community centre: The Secret to Happiness.

The class is taught by a local author and college professor, and while Callie is convinced she is happy and not depressed, she does find the class interesting. It’s pretty obvious Callie is depressed, so my biggest bugbear is that Dawn’s solution to Callie’s mental health issues was a free community centre class, not professional medical attention.

Mind you, that did fit with Dawn’s character.

Dawn is single-minded in her focus to the point of being self-centered, and she’s not great at seeing or considering other points of view. I also did not appreciate her “revelation” that moving to a (fictional) seaside town was the cure that “changed her life”. I live in a town by the sea, and people here need Jesus as much as anyone. From a secular point of view, Dawn’s advice is an irresponsible diagnosis. From a Christian point of view, it negates the need for Jesus. 

But I like Callie’s character. It’s good to see a character who is struggling, and it’s good to see her come out the other side (even if I did question Dawn’s methods). And I loved Leo the Cowboy, the six-year-old who has made the ice cream store his second home (Leo was my favourite character in The Sweet Life.)

Despite my initial negative feelings about Callie’s diagnosis and treatment, the story did offer some good advice on happiness.

As such, I much preferred the second half of the novel to the first (perhaps because I guessed a major plot twist around halfway thought, so was waiting to see how and when the reveal would come).

The Secret to Happiness is women’s fiction rather than romance. I expect women’s fiction to tackle some tough issues—which it did. I also expect those tough issues to be dealt with in a mature and responsible way—which I’m not convinced it did.

I did enjoy the story overall but would have enjoyed it more if the mental health issues (which were central to the plot) had been treated a little more seriously i.e. with professional help. After all, if someone thought they had a broken arm, we’d suggest they go to a clinic, get an ex-ray, and have an expert decide if they need treatment. Why wouldn’t we do the same if we suspect someone has a mental health problem?

Thanks to Revell Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

As it happens…

I’d just finished scheduling this review when I received an email from Christian author Ginny Yttrup talking about her experiences with depression … which read as very similar to Callie’s experience. Ginny says:

When prescribed by a knowledgeable physician or psychiatrist, medications have helped many, many others who fight depression. If you struggle, please don’t allow stigmas and shame to keep you from seeking help.
I have found therapy with Christian counselors very helpful. I’ve learned techniques I can apply when the darkness looms. I’ve also found nutrition counseling very helpful. My moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus is most helpful, reminding me there is more. . . . More than myself, more than what I feel in this moment, more than what I attempt to control. There is the Spirit’s strength through my weakness. There is hope.
If you’re struggling with depression or other forms of mental illness, there are people who want to help, who are trained to help. Please reach out for help.
The American Association of Christian Counselors can help you find a counselor in your area. Search their database here.
Or visit the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

You can follow Ginny Yttrup at her website or on Substack.

About Suzanne Woods Fisher

Suzanne Woods FIsherSuzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 books, including On a Summer Tide and On a Coastal Breeze, as well as the Nantucket Legacy, Amish Beginnings, The Bishop’s Family, The Deacon’s Family, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, among other novels. She is also the author of several nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and Amish Proverbs.

Find Suzanne Woods Fisher online at:

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About The Secret to Happiness

Escape to Cape Cod–where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by the tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossal mistake, she’s escaped to her aunt’s home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn’t a home, it’s an ice cream shop. And time isn’t going to help, because Callie’s bounce has up and left. There’s a reason she made that mistake at work, and she’s struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie’s cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco–a curiously gloomy fellow–is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie’s thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Bruno insists that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be. But if that’s true, how is it supposed to help her figure out what–or who–has been missing from her life all along?

Find The Secret to Happiness online at:

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Her name is Beth, but she’s engaged. She’s part of a weathly family who would disown her if she were with me, and I’m not sure if she's a Christian.

Book Review | Moonlight and Mystery by Karen Malley

Beth Torrington is the pampered daughter of a prominent lawyer with the almost-perfect life. She has a great marketing job, a handsome fiancé, drives a late-model luxury car, and lives in a high-end condo. But when she meets Jason, at a schoolteacher who moonlights as a magician, at a children’s birthday party, she wonders if her life might be missing something important.

Beth signs up to act in a local community theatre production, to the dismay of her fiancé, only to find the lead actor is Jason, the handsome magician who also happens to be good friends with her older brother. She’s attracted to Jason … yet she’s engaged to Blaine.

It’s obvious from the get-go that Jason is the hero, which means Beth and Blaine are going to have to break up.

This is good news.

There are red flags around Blaine from his very first line, and they add up until the man is flying more red flags than a circus. Blaine doesn’t respect Beth or her opinions, and it’s obvious he will be a controlling and possibly abusive husband. The only question is when Beth will realise Blaine’s true nature and stand up for herself. (And we know she will, because this is contemporary Christian romance, not a historical novel where the woman is married off to her father’s choice, regardless of her own feelings).

I loved the way Beth developed some sass and personality as the story progressed. I especially liked her openness to feedback and her realisation that her life—and faith—might not be as perfect as she assumed.

Jason was a perfect Christian hero.

In fact, that’s my main criticism with Moonlight and Mystery—Jason is possibly too perfect. He realises Beth isn’t a Christian, so focusses on developing a friendship with her that shows Jesus. He honours Beth and respects her relationship with Blaine, even though he is attracted to her. In that, Jason highlights Blaine’s disrespect towards Beth.

The addition of the play is brilliant.

I’ve read several novels where the hero or heroine is an author and where there are clear parallels between the main plot and the plot of the fictional writer’s story. But this is the first novel I’ve read where the plot followed a fictional play. The playwright is still writing (probably not aged way to stage a production), so we see the characters rehearsing the play as part of the story, and the story and the play track in a pleasing parallel.

There were a lot of things to like about Moonlight and Mystery as a contemporary Christian romance—Jason, the play, Beth’s faith journey, Beth’s brother and family, Jason (yes, the repetition is deliberate).

Yet, in some respects, Blaine offers the greater lesson.

Blaine says and does all the right things, and Beth is initially fooled. Moonlight and Mystery would make a good read for a young adults group so young women can see Blaine’s controlling and manipulative behaviours, and learn to avoid those men in their own lives. Instead, seek the Jasons of this world, the men who perhaps don’t look as polished, but who put God first.

Thanks to Pelican Book Group for providing a free ebook for review.

About Moonlight and Mystery

Beth Tarrington has it all: a gorgeous fiancé , a lucrative career, the latest model car, and a high-priced condo. On top of that, the Tarrington name opens every door in town. So why is she so discontent? When everything falls apart in Beth’ s life, will she finally find the strength to stand on her own two feet?

Is God really willing to stand by her side, even after she’s ignored Him for so long?

When Jason Brooks meets Beth, his head tells him to run in the opposite direction. Beth is a high-society snob engaged to another man, and he’ s not sure where she stands with God.

So why does God keep bringing the two of them together?

Can these two find love, in spite of everything that stands in their way?

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About Karen Malley

Karen MalleyFaith, Encouragement, and Happily-Ever-Afters.

Karen is an author of Christian fiction. She lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works full time as a scientist, but enjoys writing in her spare time. When not writing (with her left hand), she enjoys camping, hiking, playing board games, and especially reading! She loves reading faith-based stories, because we can all use a happy ending.

Karen loves to hear from her readers.

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Don’t be afraid to fall because you can always get back up.

Book Review | Remembering the Rancher by Liwen Ho

High school sweethearts Arabella and Maverick Knight married after Bella fell pregnant in her final year in high school. Their son, Hesse, is now twelve and thriving, but their relationship hasn’t done so well. In fact, Bella has just been served with divorce papers when she has a car accident.

She forgets her entire relationship with Mav.

I can’t imagine what it must be like to wake up thinking you’re a high school senior with a crush on your best friend, then wake up to find you’re married to him. I thought Liwen Ho did a great job of showing Bella’s surprise, confusion, and joy at that discovery. It’s fun to read.

But Bella only knows they’re married, not that they’ve been having troubles, so that provides the tension for most of the rest of the plot. Will she find out the truth about her marriage? If so, how will she react? Can Bella and Mav redeem their relationship?

Some readers don’t like reunion romance because they don’t like reading stories about relationships gone wrong. While I can relate to that, we can all see how and why the relationship has gone wrong, and want to see a happy reunion.

I don’t want to give spoilers, but I will say Maverick by name and maverick by nature.

He has a problem and figures out a (bad) solution when he should be admitting his problems to his wife and turning them over to God. But he doesn’t – and that’s (unfortunately) true to life.

I enjoyed seeing Bella and Mav re-establish their relationship, and I loved their son, Jesse. He’s kind, mature for his age, and a solid Christian who wants to see his parents reunited. His faith was an example to his parents, and to the readers.

Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance, especially those who like amnesia and/or reunion romance plots.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for reivew.

About Liwen Y Ho

Author Photo: Liwen HoLiwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay at home mom) and an author by night. She writes sweet and inspirational contemporary romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).

In her pre-author life, she received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary, and she loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children, and blogs about her adventures as a recovering perfectionist

You can find Liwen Y Ho online at:

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About Remembering The Rancher

Will her forgotten memories of the past be the key to healing their future?

Annabella Knight would be the first to admit that her marriage has been on the rocks for a while, but she never expected to be served divorce papers at work. Already feeling like a disappointment to God and to her family, there’s plenty that she would like to change about her past. But for now, she needs to find a way to salvage her relationship with her high school sweetheart for the sake of their son.

Since giving up his football dream to support his young family, Maverick Knight has tried his best to be the husband and father they deserve. Poor money decisions, however, have gotten him mixed up with dangerous men. When Annabella’s life is threatened, the only way he sees to protect his wife and son is to distance himself, even if it means breaking up their home.

When a car crash leaves Annabella in the hospital with amnesia, Maverick realizes his family needs him now more than ever. As they learn how to live together as husband and wife, will this loss of the past be an unexpected chance to start over? Or is it just the calm before the storm before old memories surface to tear them apart again?

Visit Redemption Ridge, Colorado and enjoy the faith, friendships, and forever-afters of the Christmas in Redemption Ridge series of Christian romance.
This series is a spin-off continuation of the best-selling Heroes of Freedom Ridge Series with all new characters and traditions, but the same magic of community and romance readers love.

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Shame. Like cancer, unseen from the world, it can eat away at the good. It spreads and ruins everything in its path.

Book Review | Not Quite Mr Darcy by Kim Griffin

Grieving widow Kate Thomas has moved from her US home to Kent, England, to take a role as an in-home nurse for a lady with Alzheimer’s. Kate thinks she’s a Christian when she arrives in England, but soon realises there’s a difference between the faith she’s grown up with and Margaret’s faith.

I enjoyed seeing Kate’s journey to Christian faith, as that’s something I don’t think we see enough of in Christian fiction.

I also enjoyed seeing Kate’s faith develop as she was faced with some difficult situations and calls to forgiveness. This spiritual depth was one of the strengths of the novel. Kate is put in some difficult situations and has to call on her newfound faith to guide her.

There are shades of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs Kip in Not Quite Mr Darcy, although Mr Darcy doesn’t have the same level of polish. In particular, I found some of the dialogue overly formal to the point of being awkward, and not at all how people from London or Kent speak. I did enjoy reading about the location, as my grandmother was born only a few miles up the road.

Not Quite Mr Darcy is Kim Griffin’s first published novel, which she describes as women’s fiction with romance.

That fits the story well. It certainly starts as women’s fiction, as Kate arrives in England and settles into her new role. The romance was also present from early on, but I was less impressed with the romantic aspects. I am not a fan of the “other woman” plotline, particularly as it seemed like it was an issue that could have been solved with a simple conversation. (It was, but far too late in the plot for my taste.) I had the same misunderstanding as Kate (not surprising, as the whole story was told from her point of view). That meant I misjudged one of the characters, to the detriment of my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, Not Quite Mr Darcy was a solid first novel, recommended for readers looking for Christian women’s fiction which considers tough issues like infidelity and Alzheimer’s.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

About Kim Griffin

Kim GriffinKim Griffin is a former interior designer and homeschool mom who has been leading Bible studies for over 35 years and working in Women’s Ministry for over 25.  Several years ago, God led her to begin writing words of hope.  She writes Christian women’s fiction with clean romance. Her desire is that her books will draw readers closer to the God who sees all of their imperfections and loves them still.

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About Not Quite Mr Darcy

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that Mr. Darcy does not exist.”

Many a young woman has spent years looking for her perfect Mr. Darcy, but Kate Thomas knows better. A 29-year-old recently widowed southerner, Kate sets off to find herself on the other side of the ocean in the very country where Mr. Darcy’s life was penned. Looking only to escape reminders of her heartache, Kate journeys to places she never thought she’d go—finding faith, love, and family along the way.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is not a P&P retelling but the story of a woman’s journey to discover what real love is.

An ocean … it’s vast and powerful. The water that fills it can bring death, or offer life. Kate Thomas moves her life across an ocean to conquer the hold of her past and find new life for her future.

Not Quite Mr. Darcy is women’s fiction with clean romance (kisses only). It tackles forgiving the seemingly unforgivable and the disillusionment many a woman has faced upon realizing that the perfect husband they’ve been raised to look for doesn’t exist. Kate, a recent widow, leaves her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. Seeking distance from her past she takes a job in Kingsdown, England, working with a dementia patient in a cottage overlooking the English Channel. What she finds there is much more than she anticipated. Kate learns to find joy even in the hardest circumstances.

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